Sunday, November 28, 2010

I was at Jones Beach studying Gulls with a few birders among them my friend, Doug Futuyma, when the call came in about a Northern Lapwing found in Connecticut. The call was from Mardi Dickinson(remember her? she provided constant updates on the Fork-tailed Flycatcher in Stamford CT), who was kind enough to let me know about this great find (Is Connecticut rocking or what?). I immediately began contemplating the run and started making phone calls to a few people I knew who might be interested in making the run. While doing that, I got another message, this time about a Varied Thrush being seen at the Maintenance Meadow in Central Park. The bird was found by Mike Bryant and Ray Slyper around 9:00 a.m. Now here was a fine dilemma - two good birds, which one to chase? I kept thinking "the Northern Lapwing" is a shorebird, which means you must twitch for it. On the other hand I also thought of "a bird in the hand", the Varied Thrush was closer. Both would be lifers, but the Varied Thrush was also going to be a State bird. Doug's phone call to our friend, Lloyd Spitalnik who confirmed the bird was being seen sealed the deal. It was going to be the Varied Thrush.

Doug and I decided on one car and our friend Patricia Lindsay, who I had called about the bird decided to join us. It was a quick ride, nabbing the all elusive Manhattan parking spot and then the walk towards Maintenance Meadow. When we arrived at the location, there were just a few birders around, including Brooklyn birder, Rob Bate. We joined the vigil and staked out the location. The first time the bird showed, only a few of us got on it. It disappeared for a while then reappeared again, landing in a tree giving, good looks. We were ecstatic! So much so, that we all turned to each other and said, "Success, Success, Success". It was like a scene right out of the, "Three Stooges", and we all had a good chuckle at our exuberance. The lighting was not the best for photography, but I snapped a few. Now, if that Northern Lapwing could only hang in there...